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Original poster

Colleague charging electric scooter at work

276 replies

Whatt · 14/04/2023 00:12

One of my colleagues has recently started commuting to work on an electric scooter, which is great for the environment and saves them money on travel expenses. However, the issue is that they've been using the work place plugs to charge their scooter during the day.

Now, I'm all for being environmentally friendly and reducing waste, which is something that our management team has been pushing for lately. They've switched to cheaper hand wash and toilet roll, and they no longer provide bottled water or tea, coffee, and biscuits in the staff room. I understand that these changes are necessary due to the high cost of living and the need to reduce expenses.

However, I can't help but feel like it's a bit unfair that my colleague is essentially getting free electricity to charge their personal vehicle while the rest of us are being asked to make these small sacrifices.

I'm also worried that if our electricity bill goes up, management may take away other benefits and incentives that we currently enjoy, without realizing that the charging of the electric scooter is the cause.

I'm not sure if my colleague is aware of the impact this is having on our electricity bill, but I feel like it's something that management should know about. I don't want to be seen as a snitch or cause any unnecessary conflict in the workplace, but I do think it's important to be transparent and fair.

Yabu = mind your own
Yanbu = they're taking the piss

OP posts:
Thread gallery
5
TheYearOfSmallThings · 14/04/2023 08:10

I would leave it. My colleague does the same and it isn't a cunning effort to save money, it's just that the battery on those things runs down quickly and he lives in fear of it dying under him.

Our Estates people would faint if they saw it because they live in fear of unauthorised electrical devices going on fire. So I bet someone will ban it sooner or later whether you say anything or not.

saraclara · 14/04/2023 08:13

GoodChat · 14/04/2023 08:09

@Hotcrossed there is - reduces packaging usage, courier usage and boiling of hot water.

It doesn't reduce any of those things. The employees still boil water and make drinks. They just have to provide their own coffee and tea bags.

Qilin · 14/04/2023 08:14

BringtheJury · 14/04/2023 00:44

Do they bring the scooter into the office and plug it in or do they use a charger for electric cars in the car park?

I do t think you can use EV chargers for electric scooters.

saraclara · 14/04/2023 08:17

I would be mutinous over the tea and coffee situation tbh

I was a teacher for 40 years. Never once had free tea or coffee.
Taking money from the taxpayer/children to pay for our coffee? There'd probably be about six mumsnet threads about that and a Daily Mail article.

Skybluepinky · 14/04/2023 08:20

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AdeIe · 14/04/2023 08:20

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Brefugee · 14/04/2023 08:24

Keep your beak out, OP. Or say to colleague, casually, that they're not contributing to the money-saving drive by doing this.
or keep your beak out.

tanstaafl · 14/04/2023 08:25

As some pp have pointed out, it’s not about stealing electricity per se, but the use of untested chargers and the quality of the batteries being charged.

It’s just a boring ‘the company insurance doesn’t cover it’ issue.

Anyone else remember when certain Samsung phones had to be switched off in flight because an unknown amount of them were out there with a possibility of a battery fire when charging?

It’s also that management don’t want to get involved in disputes where Bill doesn’t think there’s any reason he can’t charge his rechargeable batteries in work because people are charging their phones, so what’s the difference.
The obvious solution is to prevent any personal items being charged in the office, ‘boring’ as that may be.

Scepticalwotsits · 14/04/2023 08:25

Only issue here is that the charger likely isn’t PAT tested so in the instance of a fire it could invalidate insurance.

that’s the bigger issue not the amount of electricity being used (pennies) either way op is being very petty because they have to sacrifice in their nicer free teabags

GoodChat · 14/04/2023 08:29

@saraclara yes but it reduces the companies footprint. They're not facilitating these things.

tinytemper66 · 14/04/2023 08:36

Mind your own business.

Oblomov23 · 14/04/2023 08:37

God how petty, what a snitch you are. You should be encouraging management to install charging cables for all electric cars and all electric scooters etc.

Jonei · 14/04/2023 08:38

Don't you like your colleague very much?

Either way, I wouldn't tell on them, no. Seems quite spiteful and petty to me.

WisherWood · 14/04/2023 08:42

if our electricity bill goes up, management may take away other benefits and incentives that we currently enjoy, without realizing that the charging of the electric scooter is the cause.

How much electricity do you think it needs 😂I have an ebike and the charge is absolutely minimal. And given how often I charge my work mobile up at home, I think a business can absorb the cost of someone charging up a scooter. Who knows, he may already have cleared this with management.

There is an issue with the charger and battery, as PP have said. But that applies to anything other personal device being charged up. There might be a safety issue but he's charging up a scooter, not running a pot farm from work.

InspiredToBoot · 14/04/2023 08:42

I work with some people like you, OP. I am utterly exhausted with the incessant meddling of some work colleagues who lack the basic decency to mind their own business. Your jealousy, pettiness, and incessant boundary-crossing are not only transparent, but also pathetic. It is truly baffling how someone could be so clueless as to overstep their authority and intrude on matters that are none of their concern. Should you act upon your 'concerns', your behaviour would be a glaring display of ignorance and lack of professionalism. Perhaps it's time for you to reflect on your own inadequacies and redirect your energy towards more productive endeavours, instead of engaging in such pitiable behaviour.

givenheranextrakey · 14/04/2023 08:45

I think it very much depends on the size of the company too.

If i owned, say, a tiny company with me and a couple of employees, I wouldn't want to pay for them to charge their scooter as they can do it at home!

However, it's nothing to a bigger company!

nonevernotever · 14/04/2023 08:46

I'm with @sorrynotathome my workplace has free public car charging bays, but staff can't use them because it would be a benefit in kind.

liveforsummer · 14/04/2023 08:47

One scooter isn't going up the bill noticeably. He probably needs it to get home after using up charge on the journey there. You could always do the same!

Isiteveningyet · 14/04/2023 08:52

Op just so you fully understand, to fully charge a mid size scooter from totally flat costs approx 20 pence.

but off you go and tell management you’re all worried about that 20 pence.

im sure they will consider you and even better employee than they already do

liveforsummer · 14/04/2023 08:52

QueenCamilla · 14/04/2023 00:58

Sounds a shit company to work for.
Like really shit.
I've worked in some very poor countries but have never known an office without tea&coffee and a water-cooler provided for staff.
One office switched to a cheaper water cooler company in the 2008 financial crash 🤷

Go work somewhere better OP.

I work for local council. We have to buy our own tea and coffee and pay a contribution if we want to use milk 😅. No freebies to be had apart!

Flowerly · 14/04/2023 08:54

Good for your colleague. Leave well alone OP.

Shade17 · 14/04/2023 08:55

The bigger issue is the likelihood that this idiot’s riding around unlicensed and uninsured. Surely no business would condone or support their staff in doing this?

EmmaGrundyForPM · 14/04/2023 08:56

QueenCamilla · 14/04/2023 00:58

Sounds a shit company to work for.
Like really shit.
I've worked in some very poor countries but have never known an office without tea&coffee and a water-cooler provided for staff.
One office switched to a cheaper water cooler company in the 2008 financial crash 🤷

Go work somewhere better OP.

You've obviously never worked in local government then!

We have to supply our own tea, coffee, washing up liquid etc.

liveforsummer · 14/04/2023 08:57

dudsville · 14/04/2023 07:36

I remember someone charging her phone at work over 20 years ago, no cost of living crisis, and even then i thought how desperate things must be for her.

Yes, far better she just left it to run out 😆. What a thing to say 🙈

WilsonMilson · 14/04/2023 08:58

I’d be more worried about the company going bust if they’re in such financial difficulties as to stop providing tea and coffee!